Today Don Cherry added his voice to the conversation around Canada’s recent loss to Latvia at the World Juniors and believes that Hockey Canada is being too cheap.

Hockey Canada has been facing a lot of backlash this week from all over the place after losing their pool play game at the World Junior Championships to Latvia.

Since losing Hockey Canada and in particular head coach of the World Junior squad Dave Cameron has been torched for his questionable lineup decisions and overall lack of success.

 

After seeing all of the backlash online heading Cameron’s way former NHL head coach and popular hockey analyst Don Cherry decided to add his opinion on who is at fault.

To the surprise of many Cherry believes this is more on Hockey Canada as an organization than it is this specific staff.

Don Cherry calls out Hockey Canada for being too cheap to hire good staff

During his Don Cherry’s Grapevine Podcast Cherry spoke on the issue of Hockey Canada exclaiming that the organization needs to hire a full-time coach.

Hockey (Canada) needs a full time coach, Cherry said.

Cherry and his co-host son Tim continued the conversation and went even further explaining that a full-time GM is in need as well but Hockey Canada has not done so because they are too cheap.

Doesn’t want to pay, then see the crowds … You have Michael Misa, who was on pace to score 140 points in the OHL and has 30 goals and 30 games. I mean, he didn’t even get invited to camp. He didn’t even get invited to camp. Wasn’t even invited. I would say they need a full-time coach and GM, no doubt about it. And you know what? Has to have total control, Cherry said.

While this claim at first seems wild for a coach and GM to have a permanent job only to put together the World Junior roster with a bit of tweaking it could be a good idea.

The World Junior Championships, Under-18 World Championships, and Men’s World Championships are all spread out enough that one staff could potentially handle all three events.

Allow the staff to scout and discuss each roster months in advance knowing they will be the ones in control instead of putting the team together last minute through a selection camp or limited process.

Of course, this is unlikely as Hockey Canada still has plenty of success with their current strategy but with plenty of great hockey minds looking for a role in the hockey world this type of role likely wouldn’t be difficult to fill and would provide continuity for Hockey Canada going forward.